Stamkos scores 200th career goal in Lightning win

Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos (91) celebrates with the bench after scoring against the Philadelphia Flyers for his 200th career goal during the third period of Monday's NHL game in Tampa. The Lightning won the game 4-2.

Published: Monday, March 18, 2013 at 10:47 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, March 18, 2013 at 10:47 p.m.

TAMPA - There is something about the Philadelphia Flyers that seems to bring out the best in the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Monday night's showdown at the Times Forum matched the intensity of prior meetings.

Teddy Purcell broke a third-period tie with a fantastic deflection and Steven Stamkos iced it with his 200th career goal as the Lightning pulled out a 4-2 win over the Flyers.

An already frenetic game that was 2-2 after 40 minutes got crazier in the third. Matt Read almost gave the Flyers (13-16-1) the lead six minutes into the frame, but hit the crossbar on a shot from the right circle.

The Lightning (13-15-1) killed off a penalty, then regained the lead midway through the period. Purcell went to screen a Keith Aulie shot from the left point. While in midair, Purcell got his stick on the shot that got past Flyers goalie Ilya Bryzgalov.

"The coaches stress those quick shots to the net," Purcell said. "It's a good thing I got my stick on it."

Purcell almost doubled the lead about four minutes later, but his one-timer from the slot clanged off the right post.

"We want him to go to the net," Lightning coach Guy Boucher said. "He had his best game in a while. His confidence will come with consistent play."

The Lightning had an insurance goal waved off with three minutes left when officials ruled Cory Conacher played the puck with a high stick.

Stamkos sealed it by scoring into the empty net with three seconds left. He had a two-point night while 10 others registed a goal or an assist.

"It shows I'm producing," Stamkos said after his milestone goal. "It wasn't a highlight-reel goal, by any means, but it works the same. It's better to do it in a win."

Philadelphia trailed 2-1 after one period, but put on the pressure. Lightning goalie Anders Lindback, who had 28 saves, made great stops on Claude Giroux and Max Talbot to keep the Lightning in front.

"It's more about staying calm and not doing too much," Boucher said of Lindback. "He (Lindback) needed to take a step back and breathe."

Giroux benefited from a giveaway to tie it with 4:39 left in the second, beating Lindback stick side.

"Even with that, we were looking forward," Boucher said. "And we have to do that."

Tampa Bay nearly regained the lead in the dying seconds, but Bryzgalov made a pad save on Ryan Malone.

"I thought we responded," Stamkos said. "We know (in) every game down the stretch, the intensity will pick up. We want to stay in that pack that can push 'til the end. You can't think otherwise."

The Flyers had the better of the play early, but Lindback denied Talbot twice before the Lightning got on the board.

Ondrej Palat, who got his first career NHL goal off his skate on Saturday, used his stick for his second goal. He got behind the defense after a nice backhand feed from Dana Tyrell and beat Bryzgalov between the pads at 6:38 of the first.

"Any time you get all four lines contributing, you have a chance to win," Purcell said.

Talbot got rewarded with 6:05 left in the period. He split two Lightning skaters and beat Lindback stick side with a backhand shot.

The Lightning regained the lead with 2:57 left in the period when Tom Pyatt redirected a nice Tyler Johnson feed past Bryzgalov's blocker.

"I just like relentless players," Boucher said. "They can pay the price regardless of their size."

Philadelphia nearly tied it on its power play in the dying seconds, but a Jakub Voracek shot from the right circle hit the left post.

NOTES:

After losing 11 of 18 faceoffs in the opening period, the Lightning won 17 of 21 in the second. . . . Tampa Bay has sold out all 16 home games. Its next home contest is a week from tonight against Buffalo. . . . Lightning D Matt Carle played in his 500th NHL game. . . . The Lightning lost D Victor Hedman after the second period to an undisclosed injury. Malone left in the third after taking a questionable hit from Zac Rinaldo. . . . When Palat and Johnson scored Saturday against Carolina, it was the first time two Lightning players scored their first NHL goal in the same game.

<p><em>TAMPA</em> - There is something about the Philadelphia Flyers that seems to bring out the best in the Tampa Bay Lightning.</p><p>Monday night's showdown at the Times Forum matched the intensity of prior meetings.</p><p>Teddy Purcell broke a third-period tie with a fantastic deflection and Steven Stamkos iced it with his 200th career goal as the Lightning pulled out a 4-2 win over the Flyers.</p><p>An already frenetic game that was 2-2 after 40 minutes got crazier in the third. Matt Read almost gave the Flyers (13-16-1) the lead six minutes into the frame, but hit the crossbar on a shot from the right circle.</p><p>The Lightning (13-15-1) killed off a penalty, then regained the lead midway through the period. Purcell went to screen a Keith Aulie shot from the left point. While in midair, Purcell got his stick on the shot that got past Flyers goalie Ilya Bryzgalov.</p><p>"The coaches stress those quick shots to the net," Purcell said. "It's a good thing I got my stick on it."</p><p>Purcell almost doubled the lead about four minutes later, but his one-timer from the slot clanged off the right post.</p><p>"We want him to go to the net," Lightning coach Guy Boucher said. "He had his best game in a while. His confidence will come with consistent play."</p><p>The Lightning had an insurance goal waved off with three minutes left when officials ruled Cory Conacher played the puck with a high stick.</p><p>Stamkos sealed it by scoring into the empty net with three seconds left. He had a two-point night while 10 others registed a goal or an assist.</p><p>"It shows I'm producing," Stamkos said after his milestone goal. "It wasn't a highlight-reel goal, by any means, but it works the same. It's better to do it in a win."</p><p>Philadelphia trailed 2-1 after one period, but put on the pressure. Lightning goalie Anders Lindback, who had 28 saves, made great stops on Claude Giroux and Max Talbot to keep the Lightning in front.</p><p>Boucher credits the work done by goalie coach Frantz Jean with keeping Lindback and Mathieu Garon sharp.</p><p>"It's more about staying calm and not doing too much," Boucher said of Lindback. "He (Lindback) needed to take a step back and breathe."</p><p>Giroux benefited from a giveaway to tie it with 4:39 left in the second, beating Lindback stick side.</p><p>"Even with that, we were looking forward," Boucher said. "And we have to do that."</p><p>Tampa Bay nearly regained the lead in the dying seconds, but Bryzgalov made a pad save on Ryan Malone.</p><p>"I thought we responded," Stamkos said. "We know (in) every game down the stretch, the intensity will pick up. We want to stay in that pack that can push 'til the end. You can't think otherwise."</p><p>The Flyers had the better of the play early, but Lindback denied Talbot twice before the Lightning got on the board.</p><p>Ondrej Palat, who got his first career NHL goal off his skate on Saturday, used his stick for his second goal. He got behind the defense after a nice backhand feed from Dana Tyrell and beat Bryzgalov between the pads at 6:38 of the first.</p><p>"Any time you get all four lines contributing, you have a chance to win," Purcell said.</p><p>Talbot got rewarded with 6:05 left in the period. He split two Lightning skaters and beat Lindback stick side with a backhand shot.</p><p>The Lightning regained the lead with 2:57 left in the period when Tom Pyatt redirected a nice Tyler Johnson feed past Bryzgalov's blocker.</p><p>"I just like relentless players," Boucher said. "They can pay the price regardless of their size."</p><p>Philadelphia nearly tied it on its power play in the dying seconds, but a Jakub Voracek shot from the right circle hit the left post.</p><h3>NOTES:</h3>
<p>After losing 11 of 18 faceoffs in the opening period, the Lightning won 17 of 21 in the second. . . . Tampa Bay has sold out all 16 home games. Its next home contest is a week from tonight against Buffalo. . . . Lightning D Matt Carle played in his 500th NHL game. . . . The Lightning lost D Victor Hedman after the second period to an undisclosed injury. Malone left in the third after taking a questionable hit from Zac Rinaldo. . . . When Palat and Johnson scored Saturday against Carolina, it was the first time two Lightning players scored their first NHL goal in the same game.</p>